Everyone certainly knows the bad effects of smoking on health. Smoking can damage the lungs and cause heart disease, even stroke. However, quitting smoking is still not an easy thing to do. Though quitting smoking is an important step for someone to have a chance to live healthier and more quality. In the following effective ways anyone can stop the habit forever.
Quitting smoking is difficult at first, there are some people who even fail to do it. However, your commitment to become a former smoker will greatly help efforts to quit the habit. Research shows that the most successful people who stop smoking are using more than one method. Start by choosing the best strategy for stopping smoking. You can also involve your doctor to find effective ways and strategies to stop your smoking.
There are three important steps that must be implemented when you decide to stop smoking, which is preparation to stop smoking, stop, and still stop smoking. To succeed in these three steps, there are a number of methods that can help, including nicotine replacement therapy, and changing lifestyles to be healthier. In addition, there are a variety of other effective ways to stop smoking that you can apply in your daily life, including:
Make a list of reasons and targets for quitting smoking
Write a list of reasons why you want to quit smoking, and remember those reasons wherever you go. Reason becomes important for a change. Reasons or intentions that come from you will make it easier for you to stop smoking forever. Start by removing all ashtrays, matches, and cigarettes from your reach.
Also set a target time when you start to stop smoking and when you will stop completely from the habit. Don't forget to tell your friends, relatives and family that you are in the stage of stopping smoking, so that they support you and not offer you cigarettes.
Anticipate Symptoms that Arise at the beginning of Smoking Cessation
Feeling sick (nausea), headache, anxiety, until the feeling of irritability will usually arise at the beginning of quitting smoking. These symptoms are caused by the reduction of nicotine in your body. Generally, these conditions will peak within a 12-24 hour period and then will gradually subside within 2-4 weeks.
Another thing you may face is that the symptoms of cough are quite severe, this is because the airways in your body are functioning again. Don't be tempted to smoke even though the stone gets worse when you stop smoking, stay focused on continuing your goal. The symptoms of coughing will subside slowly.
Medical treatment
Usually the medical step used to overcome smoking addiction is nicotine replacement therapy. You can also get the nicotine effect from gum, lozenges, plasters, inhalers and nasal sprays, all of which contain nicotine. Doctors can also prescribe medical drugs such as bupropion or varenicline.
Alternative Therapies
Another method of quitting smoking is to undergo alternative therapies such as hypnotherapy and acupuncture. Hypnosis is the process of focusing the mind in a relaxed state to change behavior. It is difficult to examine whether this procedure is really effective in making someone stop smoking. However, some people claim to have felt the benefits. If you want to try, your doctor may be able to recommend a professional hypnosis therapist. Meanwhile, the use of acupuncture as a form of quitting smoking therapy is usually applied to the ear. Although its effectiveness has not been proven scientifically, but there is no harm in trying it according to the instructions of a licensed therapist.
Change Routines and Avoid Triggers
Avoid factors that can make you go back to smoking, such as gathering with fellow smokers, drinking coffee, or alcoholic drinks. If you are used to smoking after eating, you can look for other ways as a substitute, such as taking a walk, chewing gum, snacking on nuts, watermelon, or even brushing your teeth. If you have to attend a party, divert your attention from cigarettes and alcoholic beverages by drinking fruit juice. When the urge to smoke comes, try to postpone it, busy yourself with activities like walking, exercising, or doing your other hobbies. Don't forget to drink more water and fruit juice.
Say 'None' to cigarettes
When you decide to stop smoking, try to discipline yourself. Maybe once in a while you are tempted to smoke and say, "Just one stick doesn't matter." Keep that thought. Smoking a cigarette even if only one can trigger you to keep smoking a cigarette again and again.
Counseling and Support Groups
Counseling therapy can help identify and focus on stopping smoking strategies. This therapy is done by talking to the counselor or support group. To maximize success, this therapy can be combined with nicotine replacement therapy and / or with drugs.
Relaxation Method
Quitting smoking can indeed stress yourself out. But this can be overcome with relaxation methods such as doing yoga, massage, tai chi, listening to classical music, deep breaths, and other body work.
The above efforts are indeed not an easy thing to implement. Repeated failure to stop smoking is a common condition. Failing that doesn't mean you can't get out of cigarettes. Many people finally can stop forever after trying several times. Remember, doing something we can do is better than doing nothing. And every time you reject the urge to smoke, then you will be closer to your goal, which is to stop smoking.
